How much time to allow for flight connection?
 

Having recently missed a connection, I am wondering what a good amount of time to allow. Our next flight is domestic, the choices are connect in Atlanta or Washington Reagan. How much time would you allow? I used think an hour? Enough or not? I had rather sit a while than risk the unknown....

These days I am more comfortable with 2 hours.

Also depends on whether or not there are other options to get you to your destination if you miss connection and how essential it is for you to be at destination at specific time/date.

You need to give more info:

Same airline or different

Same wing of airport or not

Checked luggage or not

Time of day (early am you have better chance unless there was bad weather the day before; starting later afternoon delays expand)

Also - I would check the on-tine record of both the airport and the incoming flight

(I would never risk an hour connection at ANY major airport.)

Okay....Thanks. I am still planning it now so I will allow 2 hours instead. I had not thought to check the connection to see if it was the same co...will do that.

If it's all on the same ticket and you miss the second flight it's their problem to fix. I f 2 separate tickets it's your problem - to buy a new ticket at whatever price they choose to offer on whatever flights you can find.

NYTraveler is absolutely right. I look for the shortest connections on the same ticket. It behooves them to be on my side in getting there. I just booked a trip in August for my mom connecting in Chicago with 40 minutes.

What you want to be sure is your flight is not the last flight available that day to get you from X to Y to Z (connecting in Y). If your flight X to Y gets delayed and you missed that last flight from Y to Z; or your flight from Y to Z gets cancelled, you're SOL.

The earlier you fly in the day, the less likely the flights get delayed, and more likely you'll make the connection. And even if you miss the connection, there should still be a couple more flights available later in the day to get you to your destination.

Though nytraveler's point is correct in terms of the airline's responsibility to get you to your destination, but if you're on the last flight from Y to Z and it gets cancelled due to thunderstorms, the airline will only rebook you for the next morning's flight, but you'll be responsible for finding yourself a place to sleep that night in the connecting city/airport.

Yes, very true yk....I've become a bit attentive to that as well; I take the next to last flight if possible.

ncounty -

I think you misunderstand. I'm NOT suggesting short connections. Even if the airline is responsible for fixing it missing a flight can make a mess of your whole trip and ups the chance of your luggage being lost.

I still think you need to leave at least 2 hours. But if it's all on one ticket and the worst happens at least you aren't completely on your own dollar.

I didn't misunderstand, ny. I was only commenting on your point about being on one ticket. I hate waiting around so I was elaborating MY own procedures. If I had booked separately, I would make sure I have two hours in between. If I book on one ticket, I am willing to take the chance and have a very short connection, the shortest they allow, and as yk pointed out, take the precaution of avoiding the last flight of the day. It is so rare to get screwed by this that it is offset by all the time I have saved not waiting around. I also try not to travel on a day that it is critical I get there. If so, I go conservative with longer connections. I hate waiting! :)

I booked a round trip from New Hampshire (MHT) to Denver on Cheaptickets.com. I was a bit surprised that the layovers are quite brief, 26 minutes at LNK, 40 minutes at ORD on the return trip. Anyone familiar with LNK? I know ORD is not always easy. I seldom book a ticket with 2 tight connections, but the price made it worthwhile to take the risk.

ttt